Police Station Attacked By Naval Officers In Calabar

Several police officers were killed on Tuesday night after suspected officials of the Nigerian Navy stormed a police division in Calabar, southern Nigeria. According to news reports the attack, which began shortly after 8:30 p.m., was still underway as at 10:19 p.m. at Akim Divisional Headquarters.

“The police station is still burning as we speak,” a horrified witness said

Naval spokesperson, Suleiman Dahun, said he wasn’t aware of the development as at 10:26 p.m., promising to revert after his findings.

Sources said the unrest was a continuation of an initial skirmish between a police traffic officer and a naval officer at a traffic light near the Calabar Stadium along the Airport Road on Tuesday afternoon.

“Some naval officers ran the red light and police traffic officers intervened, but rather than listen, they descended on the policemen and beat them up,” a witness said. “This was around 5 p.m.”

“Police officers now called for backup and the Navy also called for reinforcement and they took over the road leading to the airport.

“However, around 8:00 p.m., when everyone thought the matter had been resolved, naval officers descended on Akim Police Station and started shooting and burnt down the facility.

“We confirmed three bodies but we feared there are more,” the witness said.

The witness also accused the naval officers of blocking firefighters from extinguishing the inferno set at the police station.